Water ejection valve for vehicle brake system



United States Patent Inventor Arthur A. Berg Lincolnwood, Illinois Appl.No. 742,867

Filed July 5.1968

Patented ()ct. l3, i970 Assignee Berg Manufacturing and Sales CompanyDes Plaines, Illinois a corporation of Illinois WATER EJEC'I'ION VALVEFOR \lilllCLli BRAKE SYSTEM 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl .4

Int.(1l

i .o'o' 159 143? [Sill Field ofSeareh H l37/l82. l8 30-1; $5/2lii [56]References Cited UNl'lI-ll) S'lA'i'liS PA'I'IiN'lS 946.970 l/l9l0Lcuthesser l37/l82X 2534.697 l2/l950 llruestlo 137/204 1662.544 l2/l953ilall a. l37/2iH ABSTRACT: A valve for automatically ejecting water fromthe air tanks of a vehicle brake system. The valve operates responsiveto air tank depressurization to release the water. Another valve isprovided between the air tank and first valve to prevent a loss of tankpressure below safe levels Patented Oct, 13, 1970 3,533,433

Sheet of 2 MALHINE FOR ERECTING CASES SUMMARY OF INVENTION Loading.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a machine forerecting cases having many of the advantages of a the machine disclosedin the above-mentioned patent, that is,

having an improved case erecting and case transferring means both ofwhich are operable in timed relationship with one another and with theplunger and drop-off mechanism of a conventional case packer.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a caseerecting machine having an improved vacuum operated means for opening orerecting the case, which improved means is operable in cooperation withthe vacuum operated and case camming means for erecting eases disclosedin the above-mentionedpatent.

The drawings show apreferred embodiment of the inventionand suchembodiment will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the construction disclosed, and that thedrawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon forthat purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of amachine for erecting cases, with portions ofa case packer beingindicated schematically at the downstream or lefthand end, which casepacker may be identical to that described with reference to theabovementioned patent.

FIG. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the various limit switchesand some of the relays for automatic operation of the upper and lowervacuum means used to erect cases in the machine of FIG. I. The relaysand switches required for operation of the components of the machinewith are similar to those disclosed in the above-mentioned patent areshown in block diagram form for simplicity.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the sequence of operation of the upper vacuummeans illustrating the manner in which said vacuum means is timed withrespect to the lower vacuum means of the type described in theabove-mentioned patent application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG.I shows, inside elevation, a machine for erecting or opening flatcardboard shipping cases and for positioning in each open case on thepacking funnel of a conventional ease packing machine. The machine showncomprises a fixed frame having four legs l0, 10 which legs areinterconnected by shelf brackets 12, and carry at their upper ends atable portion 14. Six post members l6, 16 are attached to the side edgesof the table portion 14 and extend upwardly to support the casemagazine, indicated generally at 18. The case magazine 18 comprises fourcorner posts 19, I9, each of which is supported on an upper frame 20carried at the upper end of the post member 16, 16, This upper frame'20also carries an upper vacuum means 22 to be described in greater detailhereinbelow.

Means is provided for cyclically stripping the lowermost case from themagazine and moving said case in its flat condition from right to leftin FIG. 1 from a lowermost position at the bottom of the magazine to acase erecting position just below the upper vacuum means 22. Preferablyand as shown in FIG. 1, said means comprises a split carriage assemblywhich is mounted in the fixed frame ofthe machine for movement betweenthe case erecting position shown and a "loading" position to the left ofthe illustrated position. The

carriage assembly portion illustrated in FIG. 1 includes alongitudinally extending member 24 upon which are rotatably 'mountedthree pairs of rollers 26, 26 all of which rollers ride on alongitudinally extending guide rod 28 mounted in the fixed frame of themachine. The carriage member 24 carries upright stanchions 30, 30 at itsright hand end. The upper ends.

of the stanchions 30 carry stripper plates 33, 33 mounted thereon forstripping the lowermost case from the magazine and moving said casetoward the left in response to movement.

of the carriage assembly from the position shown. While one side of thesplit carriage assembly has been described hereinabovc, it will beappreciated that the opposite side is similarly constructed and can beadjusted toward and away from the portion shown for accommodating casesof various widths. The reader is referred to the above-mentionedcopending application of the applicant herein for a more completedescription of the split carriage construction. Horizontal reciprocatorymovement of the carriage assembly is achieved through horizontallydisposed air cylinders 34, 34.

which have a fixed portion carried in the machine frame and a movableportion connected to the carriage assembly as indicated at 36. Variouslimit switches 1|.S, 5I.S and 7I.S to be discussed in greater detailhereinbclow are associated with reciprocatory motion of the piston rod38 to detect various positions of the carriage assembly.

As described more completely in the above-mentioned copendingapplication of the applicant herein, vertically reciprocable means ismounted in the fixed frame of the machine for drawinga horizontallydisposed case, indicated generally at C, which case will have beenpreviously stripped from the magazine, generally downwardly onto astationary platform 40. The platform 40 is fixed to the table portion 14of the frame and has an opening (not shown) through which said meansmoves. The vertically rcciprocablc means preferably comprises a fluidmotor 41 having a cylinder which is vertically disposed and attached tothe fixed frame of the machine by a bracket 42. The bracket 42 isconnected at its upper end to the table portion 14 and carries forwardlyextending legs 44, 44 fixedly attached to the upper and lower ends ofthe fixed cylinder portion of the fluid motor. The fluid motor 41 alsoincludes a movable portion including a piston rod 46 connected to ahorizontal plate 48 upon which are mounted four vacuum cup assemblies50, 50. Two guide rods 52,52 are con nectcd at their upper ends to theplate 48 and at their lower ends to a second plate 54. A slide block 56is secured to the bracket 42 and defines guide openings for slidablyreceiving the guide rods 52, 52. A limit switch 218 is provided with anactuating arm which is moved in response to initial upward movement ofthe plate 48 and is returned to the position shown when the plate 48 andits associated vacuum cups 50, 50 are retracted. The vacuum cups 50, 50and their associated plate 48 move through the opening (not shown) inthe stationary platform 40. As so arranged, the cups 50, 50 serve toengage the underside of the stripped ease positioned thereabovc, and todraw it downwardly as best shown in FIGS. 3,4, 5,and 6.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3 through 6 inclusivcly, acamming surface 60 is preferably provided below the stripped case C(FIG. 3) for causing the downwardly moving case to be erected or openedas shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As described in the aforementioned patentapplication said camming surface 60 comprises an arcuate side wall whichis adjustably supported on suitable means extending respectively from apost 16 and from the frame 20 so as to permit cases of various size tobe accommodated.

in accordance with the present invention, vacuum cups 50, 50 areprovided for engaging the underside of the flat folded case C so as todraw the case downwardly as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and in additionsecond vacuum means 22 are provided for releasably engaging the upperside of the Hat folded ease (I so as to assist in the case erectionfunction performed by the camming surface 60. As shown schematically inthese views, said upper vacuum means 22 comprises a plurality of vacuumis reached, valve 21 will assume a shutoff position. As air is let inthrough opening 26, entrained water will be transferred into chamber25'. g

When tank pressure drops, e.g.. when braking occurs, the equilibrium onpiston is unbalanced so that it moves upwa'rdly along with cone 23.Thislifts valve 21 so that the water in chamber is ejected throughoutlet 16'. This in turn changes the equilibrium pressure so that thetank pressure is able to compress spring 24 and move piston 20downwardly. Valve 21 then seats to close the water outlet so that tankpressure can again build up. Thus, in normal operation whenever the tankpressure rises air and water will feed through valve 22 into chamber 25,and when tank pressure decreases chamber 25 pressure will decrease whilewater is ejected through opening 16.

Referring to FIG. 3 another form of the invention is illustratedgenerally at 108. Valve 108 comprises a housing 110 communicating withthe underside of an air tank through connection 113. The dewatering pathB leads from connection 113 into passage 114 under control of valve 123.Valve 123 is urged to its closed position by means of piston 111 biasedby spring 112. Passage 114 communicates with chamber 116 formed betweenbell-shaped member 115 on the housing and slidable piston 117.'Piston117 is provided with rubber plates having an annular resilient lip 118contacting housing 115 to function as a one-way valve permitting flow ofair and water from chamber 116 into chamber 119. Closure member 120 onpiston 117 operates as a valve to control the flow of water throughdischarge opening 126 in the bottom of the housing. A valve release pin21 mounted on button 122, which in turn is mounted on a plurality ofribs 125, affords manual water ejection.

The diameter of piston 111 and the spring rate of spring 112 areselected so that valve 123 opens only when tank pressure is above apredetermined amount, e.g., more than 3.5 atmospheres above oneatmosphere. When this'pressure is exceeded air and entrained water enterpassage 114 under tank pressure to urge piston 117 downwardly untilclosure member 120 seats against discharge opening 126.

Assuming that the tank is initially pressurized so that closure member120 is seated as described, tank pressure will exist in passage 114 andchambers 116 and 119. When the tank pressure drops slightly by a givenamount, e.g.; 0.3 atmospheres. annular lip 118 will seal against thepressure in chamber 119 so that piston 117 is urged upwardly, carryingwith it closure member 120 which releases chamber 119 pressure throughopening 126. Piston 117 then moves rapidly downwardly to close opening126 while air and entrained water fiow around lip 118 into chamber 119.Water retained in chamber 119 will be ejected during subsequent valvecycles as tank pressure is again lowered. Air dome 124 communicates withchamber 119 and provides a compressible air pocket.

Referring to FIG. 4 another modified valve is illustrated generally at130. Valve 130 comprises a housing 132 communicating with the undersideof an airtank through connection 134. Air and entrained water from thetank flow through transverse passage 136 into chamber 138. A valvemember 140 controls air flow between chamber 138 and chamber 142 bymeans of piston 144 urged to its close position by spring 146. Chamber142 is formed between bell-shaped housing 147 and piston 148. Annularresilient lip 150 of valve 148 functions as a one-way valve to directair and water into chamber 152. Closure member 154 on piston 148controls air and water flow through housing opening 156.

Pin 158 and button 160 provide manual water ejection features. A chamber162 in communication with chamber 152 functions as an airdome providinga compressible air pocket.

A manually operated valve 164 having a valve stem 166 seating againstthe end of passage 136 is provided in housing 132. The stem is formedwith a bore 168 leading from the em larged valve seat to atmosphere.Outward displacement of stem 166 provides communication between passage136 and bore 168. Tank pressure will thus force air and water throughpassage 136 out of the valve. This provides a convenient and accessiblemeans to manually drain the tank. and also permits the operator toactivate and check the valve for Water ejection without applying thebrakes.

The operation of valve is essentially similar to that of valve 108 ofFIG. 3. Valve remains closed until tank pressure is above apredetermined minimum. When this is exceeded pressure transmittedthrough passage 136 into chamber 138 will act against piston 144 andovercome the force of spring 146. With piston 144 and valve 140 disposedvertically in the chamber, water and other contaminants will easily movedownwardly into chamber 142 for delivery into chamber 152. This preventswater and contaminants from interferring with the operation of valve140.

When tank pressure drops piston 148 and closure member 154 move upwardlyso that water and air in chamber 152 are ejected through opening 156. Ifclosure member 154 were to be accidentally lodged open, such as by apiece of foreign matter, valve 140 will prevent tank pressure fromdropping below the predetermined minimum. Without valve 140 tankpressure would be free to flow past lip to atmosphere and completelydrain the tank. The provision of valve 140 thus provides an importantsafety feature preventing complete loss of air.

lclaim:

1. A water ejection valve for a compressed airtank comprising thecombination of a housing having an outlet for ejecting the water, aninlet connected with the airtank, a first chamber in communication withthe inlet and a second chamber in communication with the outlet, aclosure member movable to and from the outlet to control fluid flowtherethrough, a piston movable between the first and second chambers andopera tively connected with the closure member, one-way valve meansproviding communication from the first chamber to the second chamber,second valve means providing communica tion between the tank and firstchamber only when the tank pressure exceeds a predetermined value, thesecond valve means being disposed between the tank and first chamber, athird chamber communicating between the inlet and first chamber, apiston slidably mounted in the third chamber to a first position closingsaid communication and to a second position opening said communication,and means to urge the piston to its first position with a predeterminedforce.

2. The invention of claim 1 further characterized in that the piston insaid third chamber is vertically disposed and the communication to thefirst chamber is at the bottom of the third chamber whereby water andcontaminants are moved into the first chamber when the piston is in itssecond position.

3. The invention of claim 2 and further including a transverse passagecommunicating between the inlet and the third chamber whereby tankpressure feeds through the passage to the third chamber and moves thepiston therein to its second position when the tank pressure exceedssaid predetermined value.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,533 ,4315Dat d October 13, 1970 lnventor(s) ARTHUR A BERG It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Cancel columns 1 and 2 and substitute the following:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to water ejection valvesfor compressed air tanks and more particularly relates to water ejectionvalves for a vehicle compressed air brake system in which a valvelocated near the bottom of the air tank normally closes a water outletopening and is automatically opened to release the water when pressuredrops in the tank.

Conventionally, an ejection valve of the type described is actuatedmanually by a lever or the like so that pressurized tank air can escapethrough the valve and throw out any water accumulated in the tank.

The present invention improves on this in that a fully automatic waterejection valve is provided which is actuated responsive to pressurevariation in the compressed air tank. This is accomplished byoperatively connecting a valve with a piston so that one side of thepiston communicates with tank pressure while the other side communicateswith pressure in a chamber which is connected to atmosphere through awater outlet normally closed by the valve. A one-way valve providescommunication from the first piston side to the chamber.

In one form of the invention, the disc connected to the piston is formedwith an annular overflow lip to serve as the one-way valve. In anotherform a cradle piston is provided with a double cone member, one portioncontrolling the water outlet while the other portion is biased forclosing a FORM PO-1050 (10-69) uscMM Dc 603764359 us oovzmmzm rum'rmcOFFICE In! o-us-su.

PATENT NO. 3,533,433 2 valve in the piston for connecting the tank andchamber. An initial. buildup of tank pressure closes the water outletand opens the piston valve until pressure is equalized on both sides ofthe piston valve. With the cradle piston embodiment the valve can bespring biased against tank pressure.

In another form of the invention, an upper space of the valve chambercomprises an air chamber or aid dome. This air dome entraps an airpocket which is compressible and insures that the piston is free tomove. Otherwise, if the chamber were completely filled with waterdisplacement of the piston upon a rise in tank pressure would beprecluded due to the incompressibility of the water.

In another form of the invention the piston is provided with a resilientabutment or stop at the side opposite the chamber. In the event thechamber is completely filled with water which then freezes the resilientstep would prevent destructive movement of the piston against thehousing.

In another form of the invention a second valve opens only when apredetermined pressure in the tank is exceeded. If the water outletvalve is prevented from closing properly, the second valve will operateto ensure that main tank pressure does not drop below the predeterminedvalue. The second valve may comprise a piston resiliently urged to aposition closing communication between the tank and first valve, withtank pressure operating to move the piston and open this communication.In another form, the piston is disposed vertically so that contaminantsfrom the tank may pass freely through without hindering operation of thevalve.

Further advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art when the following specification is read inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a sectional view of a waterejection valve incorporating features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another modified. form of the invention;and,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another modified form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. I,one form of the water ejection valve is illustrated generally PATENT NO.3,533,433 3 at 6. Valve 6 comprises a housing 9 having an inletconnection 8 mounted underneath the compressed air tank of a vehicle airbrake system. A piston 10 is slidably mounted within cylindrical flange15 of the housing. A plate or disc 12 preferably having rubber surfacesis rigidly mounted at one end of piston 10. The resilient edge of thelower rubber surface of plate 12 comprises an overflow lip 13 actingagainst an inner surface of housing flange 15 to define a one-way valve.The top of plate 12 has a ring 19 which comprises a resilient stoplimiting movement of the piston against the top side of the housing.

A chamber 25 formed in the bottom of the housing communicates with theone-way valve. When the pressure in chamber 25 of the housing is lowerthan tank pressure, air and entrained water move in the direction ofarrow B past lip 13 into chamber 25.

A water outlet 16 in the bottom of chamber 25 is opened and closed bymeans of valve 11 formed on the lower end of piston 10. When the pistonmoves downwardly responsive to tank pressure valve 11 closes outlet 16.Pin 17 mounted on button 18 is loosely mounted in outlet 16. This buttoncan be manually operated to move pin 17 and lift valve 11 so that waterin the chamber is ejected along path E.

Flange 15 defines an annular space 14 in communication with chamber 25.Space 14 comprises an air dome so that when chamber 25 is completelyfilled with water the compressability of the air in this space willpermit piston 10 to continue to function.

The operation of valve 6 will now be described. Assume that the tank isdepressurized and that piston 10 is in the position of FIG. 1. As tankpressure build up the piston moves downwardly until valve 11 closesoutlet 16 Pressure builds up in chamber 25 by flowing past lip 13 untilthe pressure on both sides of plate 12 is equalized. As air is used inthe brake system tank pressure drops somewhat so that the higherpressure in chamber 25 acts against piston 10 and plate 12. This raisesvalve 11 to open outlet 16 and reduce the pressure in chamber 25. Thepiston again moves downwardly so that the air and entrained water flowpast the lip until tank pressure is present in chamber 25. The waterentrained with the air flowing past lip 13 accumulates in the bottom ofchamber 25. As the piston is lifted following a slight drop of tankpressure to open valve 11, the pressure in chamber 25 will eject thewater out through outlet 16. Following this the pressure in chamber 25is again lower than tank pressure so that valve 11 closes and PATENT NO.3,533,433

air again flows past lip 13 until the chamber pressure equals tankpressure. Valve 6 is now ready for another cycle upon a further drop intank pressure.

Referring to FIG. 2 a modified form of the water ejection valve isillustrated generally at 21. Valve 21 comprises a cradle piston 20slidably mounted within annular flange 15' of housing 9'. A double conemember 23 is mounted in piston opening 26 provides a valve 22 to controlthe flow of air and water into chamber 25' A valve disc 23a at the lowerend of cone 23 controls water flow through outlet 16' in the manner ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1. Pin 17' and button 18' provide manual releaseoperation for the valve. An air dome 14' is formed in the housing toprovide a compressible air pocket.

Cradle piston 20 is biased upwardly against tank pressure by spring 24in the chamber. A resilient stop for the piston comprises a rubberO-ring 27 mounted at the top of the piston.

In the operation of valve 21, assume that the elements are initially inthe position of FIG. 2 with tank pressure at a low value. After thepressure builds up, cradle piston 20 is urged downwardly until the forceagainst the pressure side of the piston is in equilibrium with the forceof spring 24. At a predetermined pressure valve 21 will seat to closeopening 16' At a further rise in pressure valve 22 will open so thattank air and entrained water will enter chamber 25' through opening 26.The force against the underside of piston 20 resulting from chamber 25'pressure will combine with the force of spring 24 to equalize tankpressure. A lower pressure thus ail in chamber 25' while the tankpressure continually rises. When the maximum service pressure in thetank Signed and sealed this 27th day of November 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD T LFLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents

